Rewards credit cards pay you back for spending you would make anyway — through cashback, airline miles, or loyalty points. Used wisely (balance cleared in full every month), a rewards card is one of the simplest ways to earn money on everyday purchases.
Top Rewards Credit Cards UK 2026 — Overview
| Card | Reward type | Earn rate | Annual fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday | Cashback | 0.5% (first £10k), 1% above | £0 | Best free cashback card |
| Amex Platinum Cashback | Cashback | 5% intro (90 days), then 0.75–1.25% | £25/year | Higher spenders |
| Chase UK Cashback Visa | Cashback | 1% on all spending | £0 | Widest acceptance; no annual fee |
| Amex Gold | Membership Rewards | 1 point/£1 (3x at Amex Travel) | £140/year | Best for frequent travellers |
| Barclaycard Avios Plus | Avios | 1.5 Avios/£1 | £20/month | British Airways/Iberia flyers |
| John Lewis Partnership Visa | Waitrose/JLP vouchers | 1 point/£2 | £0 | Regular JL/Waitrose shoppers |
| Sainsbury’s Nectar Amex | Nectar points | 2 points/£1 at Sainsbury’s; 1/£5 elsewhere | £0 | Regular Sainsbury’s shoppers |
| Amazon Mastercard (Barclays) | Amazon credit | 1.5% at Amazon, 0.5% elsewhere | £0 | Regular Amazon buyers |
Cashback Cards — The Simple Option
American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday (No Fee)
The best no-fee cashback card in the UK for most people:
- 5% cashback for first 3 months (up to £100 cashback)
- 0.5% on the first £10,000 spending per year
- 1% on everything above £10,000
On £800/month spending: £4,800/year below £10k at 0.5% = £24 cashback per year. Low, but entirely free.
Chase UK 1% Cashback Visa
Chase pays 1% cashback on all purchases with no annual fee:
- 1% on everything, no cap (for first year; check current terms)
- Widely accepted — Visa is accepted almost everywhere Amex is not
- No foreign transaction fee — also useful abroad
On £800/month spending: £96/year cashback.
Points Cards — Fly for Less
Amex Gold — Membership Rewards Points
| Earn rate | 1 point per £1 spent |
|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Up to 20,000 points on qualifying spend |
| Annual fee | £140 (after first year) |
| 1 point equivalent | ~1p in statement credit; 1p–3p transferred to airline miles |
Points transfer to British Airways Avios, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Emirates Skywards, and hotel programmes at 1:1. For UK long-haul flight rewards, 20,000 points typically converts to a short-haul return flight.
Barclaycard Avios Plus
| Earn rate | 1.5 Avios per £1 |
|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £20 |
| Welcome bonus | 25,000 Avios on first spend |
| Best redemption | BA flights and upgrades; Aer Lingus, Iberia |
At 1.5 Avios per £1 on £800/month spending, you earn ~14,400 Avios per year — enough for a short-haul economy return on British Airways.
Annual Fee vs No Fee — Working Out the Maths
Scenario: £800/month spending (£9,600/year)
| Card | Annual fee | Estimated annual reward | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase 1% (free) | £0 | £96 | £96 |
| Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday | £0 | £48 (0.5%) | £48 |
| Amex Platinum Cashback (£25 fee) | £25 | £72 (0.75%) | £47 |
| Amex Gold (£140 fee) | £140 | £96 in points (1p/pt) + travel perks | Varies |
For most people spending under £1,500/month, a no-fee cashback card delivers the best straightforward return.
The Golden Rule of Rewards Cards
Never carry a balance on a rewards card. Reward rates of 1–2% are instantly wiped out by interest rates of 24–29% APR. Rewards cards are only financially beneficial if you clear the balance in full every month.
Always set up a direct debit for the full balance each month to avoid any risk of carrying debt.
For related credit card guides see best 0% purchase cards, best balance transfer cards, and credit score guide.